Afghanistan: Overseas Aid

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the answer of 6 March 2007,  Official Report, columns 1835-6W, on Afghanistan: overseas aid, how much funding each organisation listed in Annex A and Annex B received from his Department for the reconstruction and development of Afghanistan in each of the last three financial years.

Hilary Benn: DFID Afghanistan has channelled the following amounts through the organisations listed in Annex A and Annex B of the answer of 6 March 2007,  Official Report, columns 1835-6W for reconstruction and development in Afghanistan over the last three financial years (broken down by year where available):
	
		
			   2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  Total 
			  Annex A—international organisations 
			 Aga Khan (£) 700,000 1,700,000 700,000 3,100,000 
			 BBC World Service Trust (£) — — 49,595 49,595 
			 BAAG (£) 100,000 158,000 39,000 297,000 
			  
			  Annex B—local organisations 
			 Afghan Fertiliser Company (£) — — 1,789 1,789 
			 Afghanistan Independence Human Rights Commission ($) — — — 5,700 
			 Afghanistan Information Management Service ($) 4,196 — — 4,196 
			 Afghanistan National Construction Coordination ($) 63,976 — — 63,976 
			 Co-operation Centre for Afghanistan ($) — — — 8,380 
			 Helping Afghan Farmers Organisation (£) — — 1,336,000 1,336,000 
			 Irtiqa Development and Construction Organisation ($) — — — 71,640 
			 Reconstruction Committee for Development of Afghanistan ($) — — — 74,500 
			 Roshan Construction Company ($) 23,547 — — 23,547 
			 Southern Afghanistan Development Association ($) — — — 95,000 
			 Southern Rehabilitation and Aid Committee ($) — — — 23,000 
			 Tribal Liaison Office (£) — — 81,952 81,952 
		
	
	Other organisations listed in Annex A and Annex B were funded prior to the last three financial years. DFID Afghanistan also indirectly funds a range of non-governmental organisations as implementing partners of the Government of Afghanistan's National Priority Programmes (e.g. through our support to the National Solidarity Programme).

Departments: Advertising

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what his Department's total spending was on advertising and promotional campaigns in each year since 1997; and what the cost of each campaign was, broken down by costs relating to  (a) television,  (b) radio and  (c) print media.

Gareth Thomas: DFID has not to date advertised on television or radio. Spending on advertising in print media for recruitment and procurement purposes was as follows:
	
		
			   Spend (£) 
			 2000 751,972 
			 2001 1,208,192 
			 2002 914,571 
			 2003 849,196 
			 2004 700,077 
			 2005 397,776 
		
	
	Figures prior to 2000 and for 2006 are not available.
	
		
			  Spend on promotional campaigns since November 2000 
			   Total  (£) 
			  (i) Second White Paper on International Development  
			 To raise awareness of the Government's White Paper "Eliminating World Poverty-Making globalisation work for the poor" 41,945 
			   
			  (ii) Developments Magazine and Rough Guide Campaign  
			 To promote Developments Magazine and The Rough Guide to a Better World 3,642 
			  (iii) Trade Matters Campaign  
			 To raise awareness of the role of trade in fighting world poverty and promote availability of a new free publication—Trade Matters. 26,176 
			   
			  (iv) Developments Magazine Campaign  
			 To increase the number of subscribers to the Department's free magazine—Developments. 12,934 
			   
			  (v) Third White Paper on International Development  
			 To raise awareness of the UK Government's action plan for working with overseas and international partners to reduce world poverty over the next five years. 125,000 
			   
			  (vi) G8 Gleneagles—One year on  
			 To report progress on delivering the commitments proposed at the G8 summit. 62,275

Iraq: Overseas Aid

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what funding his Department committed in each year since the invasion to  (a) water and sanitation projects and  (b) electrification projects in Iraq.

Hilary Benn: Since 2003, DFID has spent the following amounts to improve electricity and water and sanitation in Iraq:
	
		
			  £ million 
			   Electricity  Water and Sanitation 
			 2003-04 12.1 10.3 
			 2004-05 6.2 1.6 
			 2005/06 5.2 6.6 
			 2006-07 8.2 3.3 
		
	
	In addition, DFID has contributed £70 million to the International Reconstruction Fund Facility for Iraq (IRRFI). This has financed electricity, water and sanitation projects across Iraq. We have also contributed £36 million to the International Committee of the Red Cross so that they can provide emergency assistance to Iraqis. This includes access to clean water and sanitation.

Latin America: Debts

Peter Kilfoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions he has had on debt relief in  (a) Nicaragua and  (b) other Latin American countries.

Gareth Thomas: Since 1999 Nicaragua (US$ 4.5 billion), Honduras (US$1 billion) and Bolivia (US$ 2.06 billion), have all received substantial debt relief through the heavily indebted poor countries (HIPIC) initiative. In addition, since its implementation last year these countries have also benefited from the 100 per cent. cancellation of debt stock owed to the World Bank, IMF and African Development Bank under the multilateral debt relief initiative (MDRI). Last year, the MDRI relieved debts of $968 million to Nicaragua, $1.3 billion to Honduras and $1.75 billion to Bolivia. DFID has monitored the spending of this money through our work with the World Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank and the International Monetary Fund. This helps to ensure that the money gets targeted to items in the budget that directly impact on the poor, such as health and education. We have cancelled all outstanding bilateral debt owed to the UK, including contributing to the debt relief provided under HIPC and MDRI.
	Despite good progress on multilateral debt relief, Nicaragua still has about $1.3 billion in outstanding debt from commercial creditors who are not part of either HIPC or MDRI. This debt hinders how Nicaragua can use other debt relief to address poverty, and is subject to 'vulture funds' which buy the debt when Nicaragua is least able to pay, and then press for repayment at several times the debt's face value, when economic prospects are looking better. DFID has just committed $3.5 million to the elimination of this debt, in a deal with the World Bank and other donors. The deal itself reduces the debt to $64 million. The Nicaraguan Government itself will contribute $3.5 million. With contributions from the Government of Nicaragua, World Bank, DFID and others, it is hoped that this will fully eliminate the outstanding commercial debt owed by Nicaragua.
	In addition, the Inter-America Development Bank has recently announced debt relief to the five poorest countries in the region. This amounts to $3.4 billion and $1.0 billion of future interest payments from its fund for special operations (FSO). This will provide immediate relief of $1 billion for Bolivia, $984 million for Nicaragua, and $467 million for Guyana among others. However, the UK has abstained from voting on this deal, along with several other European countries. This was because of concerns that the deal would hinder access of the poorest countries to concessionary IADB financing in the future. Access to continued flows of concessionary lending from the FSO of the IADB will be important to the achievement of the millennium development goals in countries such as Nicaragua. The UK is currently in discussions with IADB and other shareholders on this matter.

Electoral Commission

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the hon. Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission how many staff of the Electoral Commission have worked for the Commission  (a) for less than one year,  (b) for between (i) one and two years, (ii) two and three years, (iii) three and four years, (iv) four and five years and  (c) for more than five years.

Peter Viggers: The Electoral Commission informs me that the figures for current staff are as follows:
	
		
			   Number 
			 (a) less than 1 year 37 
			 (b) (i) 1-2 years 25 
			 (b) (ii) 2-3 years 17 
			 (b) (iii) 3-4 years 26 
			 (b) (iv) 4-5 years 22 
			 (c) more than 5 years 15 
			  Note:  As at 23 March 2007. 'Current staff' includes all permanent and fixed term staff members, but excludes consultants and temporary workers.

Bovine Tuberculosis

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what the purpose is of a disease report form; and how the data collected is used to provide a better understanding of bovine TB;
	(2)  what use is made of the data obtained from the bovine TB disease report form; and if he will list the notices, reports and other documents that have been collected as a result of the process.

Ben Bradshaw: Since 1 January 2005, the TB Disease Report Form (DRF) has been used to collect the information required for dealing with each new TB incident.
	When cattle react positively to a TB test, or TB is detected in a carcase or animal, an investigation is initiated into the circumstances of the incident. Information is collected to establish, whenever possible, the origin of infection.
	The DRF is used to capture on-farm information, and collate results from the incident. The collection of data and the epidemiological section are used to consider the possible origins of infection and potential risks of further disease spread, set up lists of animals to be traced and identify which neighbouring premises require additional testing.

Departments: Conferences

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport which industry summits her Department has  (a) hosted and  (b) co-hosted with other Government Departments in each of the last five years; what policy initiative each summit was associated with; and what the cost of each such summit was.

Shaun Woodward: The Department has an ongoing programme of meetings with industry representatives from across all of its sectors. A relatively small proportion of which have been specifically termed Industry summits'. The most recent examples of these are the events being held to inform the Creative Economy programme and those which were held on ticket touting issues. In these cases, the costs incurred (in addition to those for internal administration) are as set out in the table.
	An analysis of all of the industry summit' events held over the last five years, the policy initiative each was associated with, and the cost of each, could only be provided at disproportionate expense.
	
		
			  Event  Programme  Date  Cost (£) 
			 Ticket touting Ticket touting 20 April 2006 0.00 
			 Access to finance Creative Economy programme 25 April 2006 0.00 
			 Competition and IP Creative Economy programme 24 May 2006 531.69 
			 Technology Creative Economy programme 12 June 2006 0.00 
			 Diversity Creative Economy programme 29 June 2006 408.00 
			 Infrastructure Creative Economy programme 6 July 2006 0.00 
			 Ticket touting Ticket touting 17 July 2006 0.00 
			 Education and Skills Creative Economy programme 19 July 2006 376.00 
			 Music Creative Economy programme 13 June 2006 3500.00 
			 Computer games Creative Economy programme 18 July 2006 2300.00 
			 Publishing Creative Economy programme 4 September 2006 400.00 
			 Ticket touting Ticket touting 8 February 2007 0.00 
			 Broadcasting Creative Economy programme 7 March 2007 0.00 
			 Film Creative Economy programme 12 March 2007 271.58 
			 Architecture Creative Economy programme 14 March 2007 406.50 
			 Music Creative Economy programme 19 March 2007 0.00 
			 Publishing Creative Economy programme 20 March 0.00 
			 Software Creative Economy programme 21 March 2007 0.00 
			 Computer games Creative Economy programme 21 March 2007 0.00 
			 Design Creative Economy programme 22 March 2007 68.80

Hotels: Taxation

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport which organisations have made written representations to her Department on taxation on hotel accommodation in the last 12 months.

Shaun Woodward: DCMS has received 57 written representations on this subject since 1 March 2006. These include four submissions to the Department's Welcome Legacy consultation which raised the matter of an accommodation tax. A significant number of proforma letters, written as part of the Caterer and Hotelkeeper's campaign against an accommodation tax, were sent to the Prime Minister and forwarded to the Department.
	These representations were received from tourism and hospitality trade associations, individual businesses, local authorities, representatives of attraction businesses, Members of Parliament and public and private sector partnership organisations.
	Since the publication of Sir Michael Lyons' report on 21 March, the Government have stated there is no intention to introduce a local bed tax.

Public Libraries

Linda Riordan: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate she has made of the percentage of the population that used a public library in each of the last five years.

David Lammy: The information necessary to estimate the percentage of population using public libraries in England across the whole period sought by the hon. Member is not held centrally.
	The DCMS 'Taking Part' cultural participation survey shows that 48.2 per cent. of all adults in this country visited at least one library during 2005-06. However, this was the survey's first reporting year so we do not have comparable information for previous years. Neither does this figure include library usage by children and young people under 16.
	The Public Library Statistics, published annually by the Chartered Institute of Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) show that the following percentages of people in England borrowed at least one item from a public library ("active borrowers") in the period 2001-02 to 2005-06:
	
		
			   Active borrowers as a percentage of total population 
			 2001-02 27.6 
			 2002-03 26.2 
			 2003-04 24.8 
			 2004-05 23.0 
			 2005-06 22.2 
		
	
	The table, although focused on individual users, only reflects the number of people that used the library to borrow an item including books, DVDs and CDs. It does not take account of those people who used a library for other purposes such as reading a book or newspaper on the library premises, attending a reading or learning group or accessing information (whether in paper or online form). Increasingly, public libraries are becoming wider community resources that offer an increasing range of services.
	The following table, shows the average number of visits to libraries in England per head of resident population in England as well the total number of visits overall.
	
		
			   Average number of visits to libraries in England per head of resident population  Visits overall (000) 
			 2001-02 5.5:1 270,775 
			 2002-03 5.5:1 274,053 
			 2003-04 5.7:1 285,365 
			 2004-05 5.8:1 288,382 
			 2005-06 5.8:1 290,979

Tourism: North East Region

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many tourists visited  (a) Hartlepool constituency,  (b) Tees Valley sub-region and  (c) the North East region in each of the last five years.

Shaun Woodward: The following tables show the number of visits to the North East from (i) UK residents (with an overnight stay) and (ii) overseas residents, for the latest years for which data is available. Data for Tees Valley are only available for inbound visits and no information is available at a constituency level.
	
		
			  Domestic overnight visits( 1) 
			  Thousand 
			   2001  2002  2003  2004  2005 
			 North East 4,300 4,800 4,800 3,800 4,640 
			 (1 )The methodology for the UKTS changed in 2005 meaning that comparisons with previous years should be treated with caution. This change occurred as a result of concerns with the quality of 2004 data, which are thought to be an under-representation of the true position.  Source: UK Tourism Survey (National Tourist Boards) 
		
	
	
		
			  Inbound visits 
			  Thousand 
			   2001  2002  2003  2004  2005 
			 Tees Valley 45 47 69 50 52 
			 North East 440 529 505 539 590 
			  Source: International Passenger Survey (ONS) 
		
	
	In addition, account should be taken of the number of day visits made to, or within, the North East. The Leisure Day Visits Survey in 2002-03 recorded a total of around 30 million tourism day visits to destinations in the North East. It is not possible to provide a time series for this information as the surveys are run intermittently.

Education Maintenance Allowance

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many young people have been in receipt of educational maintenance allowance (EMA) in each London local authority since its introduction; and how many were in receipt of EMA in 2005-06.

Phil Hope: This is a matter for the Learning and Skills Council, who operate the education maintenance allowance (EMA) for the DfES and hold the information about take-up and payments made under the scheme. Mark Haysom, the Council's Chief Executive, has written to my hon. Friend with the information requested and a copy of his reply has been placed in the House Library.
	 Letter from Mark Haysom, dated 28 March 2007:
	I am writing in response to your recent Parliamentary Question that asked; "How many young people have been in receipt of educational maintenance allowance (EMA) in each London local authority since its introduction; and how many were in receipt of an EMA in 2005-06."
	EMA take-up is defined as young people who have received one or more EMA payments in the academic year.
	National EMA was phased in over time to successive 16 year old age groups. 2004/05 was the first year of National EMA and therefore we can only give data for 16 year olds in that year.
	The attached tables show EMA take-up data for each London Local Authority area during each academic year since the scheme's inception.
	I hope you find this information useful.
	
		
			Scheme take-up 
			  Area type  Area name  2004/05  2005/06  2006/07 to end February 2007 
			 National England 297,259 429,627 503,741 
			 Region London 50,896 70,480 79,303 
			 LSC London, Central 11,171 14,043 1,528 
			 LA Camden 1,550 1,749 1,886 
			 LA Islington 1,682 1,976 2,090 
			 LA Kensington and Chelsea 325 691 849 
			 LA Lambeth 2,791 3,406 3,666 
			 LA Southwark 2,647 3,138 3,469 
			 LA Wandsworth 1,607 1,948 2,103 
			 LA Westminster 569 1,135 1,465 
			 LSC London, East 18,871 24,229 26,335 
			 LA City of London 18 64 70 
			 LA Greenwich 2,161 2,479 2,672 
			 LA Hackney 2,841 3,262 3,444 
			 LA Lewisham 2,575 2,945 3,201 
			 LA Tower Hamlets 3,265 3,626 3,748 
			 LA Barking and Dagenham 1,408 1,917 2,196 
			 LA Bexley 834 1,552 1,826 
			 LA Havering 821 1,498 1,641 
			 LA Newham 3,774 4,601 4,823 
			 LA Redbridge 1,174 2,285 2,714 
			 LSC London, North 7,292 10,622 12,192 
			 LA Barnet 1,044 2,198 2,667 
			 LA Enfield 1,337 2,639 3,338 
			 LA Haringey 2,508 2,984 3,243 
			 LA Waltham Forest 2,403 2,801 2,944 
			 LSC London, South 4,253 8,332 10,235 
			 LA Bromley 936 1,698 1,983 
			 LA Croydon 1,375 2,874 3,646 
			 LA Kingston-Upon-Thames 370 706 867 
			 LA Merton 613 1,261 1,617 
			 LA Richmond-Upon-Thames 359 683 790 
			 LA Sutton 600 1,110 1,332 
			 LSC London, West 9,309 13,254 15,013 
			 LA Hammersmith and Fulham 1,247 1,429 1,524 
			 LA Brent 2,744 3,349 3,577 
			 LA Ealing 2,682 3,158 3,273 
			 LA Harrow 849 1,785 2,213 
			 LA Hillingdon 883 1,695 2,123 
			 LA Hounslow 904 1,838 2,303

English: Teaching Methods

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to his answer of 15 January 2007,  Official Report, columns 800-1W, on English language teaching, 
	(1)  if he will assess the merits of using the skills and materials available in the learning English section of the BBC World Service to maintain the accessibility of online/distance learning English for Speakers of Other Languages courses; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  when he expects to reply to Question 120255, on the BBC World Service and English language teaching, tabled by the hon. Member for Portsmouth South on 6 February.

Phil Hope: There are a wide variety of materials and resources to support the learning of English and we would encourage those that are effective and of high quality.
	The Skills for Life Strategy has implemented national standards for adult literacy and numeracy and all provision eligible for funding as basic skills has to be mapped to these. The standards are reinforced and supported by national core curricula for literacy, numeracy, ESOL and ICT which provide a context within the learning environment. Learners wishing to improve their English skills should follow approved courses based on the Skills for Life national standards and curriculum and which lead to nationally recognised qualifications.
	We recognise the value and potential of delivering English language online and via distance learning and we are currently investigating this area.

Bus Services: Grants

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much was paid to bus operators through the Bus Service Operators Grant in each year since the grant was introduced.

Gillian Merron: Bus Service Operators Grant (BSOG) was introduced under the Transport Act 2000. It replaced the Fuel Duty Rebate scheme which had been in place since 1965.
	The amount of BSOG paid by the Department to operators of local bus and community transport services since 2000 is as follows:
	
		
			   £ million (cash prices) 
			 2000-01 301 
			 2001-02 304 
			 2002-03 317 
			 2003-04 341 
			 2004-05 359 
			 2005-06 369 
			 2006-07 (1)380 
			 (1) Estimated.

Roads: Accidents

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  how many road traffic accidents occurred in  (a) Eastbourne and  (b) East Sussex in each year since 1997;
	(2)  how many accident blackspots have been identified in  (a) Eastbourne and  (b) East Sussex; and what steps his Department has undertaken to reduce the number of accidents in such locations.

Stephen Ladyman: The number of reported personal injury road accidents in Eastbourne and East Sussex (excluding Brighton and Hove) in each year since 1997 is given in the table.
	
		
			  Number of reported personal injury accidents in Eastbourne and East Sussex, 1997  to  2005 
			   Eastbourne  East Sussex( 1) 
			 1997 279 1,989 
			 1998 338 2,040 
			 1999 335 1,991 
			 2000 320 1,941 
			 2001 308 1,737 
			 2002 356 1,823 
			 2003 343 1,811 
			 2004 309 1,720 
			 2005 306 1,703 
			 (1) Includes Eastbourne but excludes Brighton and Hove 
		
	
	There is no standard definition for an accident blackspot. The assessment of local accident blackspots is a matter for the relevant local highway authorities.

Roads: Construction

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the average cost was of building a mile of  (a) motorway,  (b) trunk road grade dual carriageway,  (c) trunk road grade dual carriageway and  (d) an extra lane on a motorway in each of the past 10 years.

Stephen Ladyman: The following table lists the average cost per kilometre in real terms of building motorways, dual carriageway trunk roads and an extra lane to existing motorways, provided by publicly funded major schemes for the last 10 years.
	The ranges of cost reflect the different types of projects delivered in each year since 1996. Seven projects were delivered in 1999-2000, two of which included tunnels. One project adding lane capacity was completed in 2001-02 and the majority of its cost was in strengthening an existing bridge.
	
		
			  £ million 
			   Motorways  ( Cost per km in real terms )  Trunk dual  ( Cost per km in real terms )  Motorway widening  ( Cost per lane km in real terms ) 
			 
			 1996-97 n/a n/a 8.1 
			 1997-98 10.5 13.9 4.3 
			 1998-99 n/a 22.6 n/a 
			 1999-2000 n/a 55.8 n/a 
			 2000-01 20.9 n/a n/a 
			 2001-02 n/a n/a 34.9 
			 2002-03 n/a 4.8 n/a 
			 2003-04 13.7 5.9 14.4 
			 2004-05 n/a 5.4 2.4 
			 2005-06 n/a 4.6 6.8

Transport: Lancashire

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much funding the local transport authority in Lancashire received  (a) in total,  (b) per mile of road and  (c) per head of population in each year since 1997.

Gillian Merron: The following table shows the total funding allocated to Lancashire council in the local transport capital settlements in each year between 1997-98 and 2006-07 (inclusive) in terms of  (a) totals  (b) per mile of road and  (c) per head of population.
	
		
			  Lancashire council 
			   Total funding (£000)  Funds (£000) per mile  Funds (£ per head) 
			 1997-98 11,006 2.23 7.67 
			 1998-99 7,155 1.66 6.21 
			 1999-2000 9,681 2.25 8.4 
			 2000-01 11,532 2.68 10 
			 2001-02 27,830 6.49 24.15 
			 2002-03 30,730 7.16 26.67 
			 2003-04 25,388 5.92 22.03 
			 2004-05 29,209 6.81 25.35 
			 2005-06 25,865 6.03 22.45 
			 2006-07 27,211 6.35 23.62 
			  Note: The 1997-98 figures include Blackpool and Blackburn, which were part of Lancashire pre-reorganisation.

Travel: Expenditure

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the percentage change in real terms of the cost of travelling by  (a) private car,  (b) bus and  (c) train since 1997.

Gillian Merron: The following table shows in index form the costs of motoring, bus and train travel in real terms in each year since 1997.
	
		
			  Real changes in the cost of transport: UK 1997 to 2005  (Index 1997 = 100) 
			   All motoring( 1)  Bus fares  Rail fares 
			 1997 100.0 100.0 100.0 
			 1998 99.7 99.9 100.7 
			 1999 100.6 101.9 102.8 
			 2000 101.4 103.0 101.5 
			 2001 99.1 105.4 103.6 
			 2002 96.7 106.9 104.2 
			 2003 95.2 108.2 103.0 
			 2004 93.4 110.5 103.9 
			 2005 91.4 114.5 105.0 
			 (1) "All motoring" includes the cost of purchase, maintenance, fuel, tax and insurance.  Source: Office for National Statistics 
		
	
	The overall cost of motoring has fallen in real terms by 8.6 per cent. between 1997 and 2005. Over the same period, bus fares and rail fares have risen by 14.5 per cent. and 5.0 per cent. respectively.

Council Tax: Fraud

Andrew Stunell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the amount of money lost to council tax benefit fraud in the financial year  (a) 2004-05,  (b) 2005-06 and  (c) 2006-07; and if he will make a statement.

James Plaskitt: Council tax benefit is similar to housing benefit in both regulations and administration. The following table shows estimated overpaid expenditure for council tax benefit by applying the proportion of expenditure that was overpaid for housing benefit, to the total expenditure on council tax benefit.
	
		
			  Estimated overpayment due to fraud in council tax benefit 
			   Percentage of expenditure  Overpaid £ million 
			 2004-5 1.3 50 
			 2005-6 1.0 40

Disability Living Allowance: Fraud

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many prosecutions his Department has instigated for the fraudulent use of disability living allowance in each of the last five years; how many of these prosecutions were successful; and if he will make a statement.

James Plaskitt: The available information is in the following table.
	
		
			  Prosecutions for disability living allowance related fraud 
			   Number of prosecutions  Number of convictions 
			 2001-02 68 97 
			 2002-03 85 90 
			 2003-04 60 80 
			 2004-05 86 106 
			 2005-06 198 195 
			  Notes:  1. The figures include prosecutions for benefit and instrument of payment related fraud.  2. The figures for number of prosecutions do not include General Matching Service cases.  3. The figures for the number of convictions include General Matching Service cases.  Source:  1. Number of prosecutions from Fraud Information by Sector.  2. Number of convictions from Disability and Carer's Service Operational Intelligence Unit. 
		
	
	The Disability and Carers Service, the agency responsible for administering disability living allowance (DLA), is committed to reducing fraud and error in DLA.
	All allegations of benefit fraud are carefully considered and, where appropriate, referred for investigation to the Fraud Investigation Service.

Housing Benefit Fraud

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much his Department has spent on initiatives to reduce housing benefit fraud in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

James Plaskitt: Information regarding the amounts provided to local authorities to help reduce fraud and error in housing benefit is in the following table.
	
		
			   Amount (£ million) 
			 1997-98 62.21 
			 1998-99 38.63 
			 1999-00 39.07 
			 2000-01 35.11 
			 2001-02 65.58 
			 2002-03 73.75 
			 2003-04 130.50 
			 2004-05 128.44 
			 2005-06 143.13 
			  Notes: 1. A number of counter-fraud schemes have operated from 1997. These are the Weekly Benefit Saving Scheme, the New Incentive Scheme, the Security Against Fraud and Error Scheme and the Verification Framework. The figures include set up and ongoing costs for the Verification Framework in addition to money claimed by local authorities for work done under the Weekly Benefit Saving Scheme, the New Incentive Scheme and the Security Against Fraud and Error Scheme. 2. The main changes in expenditure between years can be explained as follows: A tightening of the rules in 1998-99 reduced the amounts local authorities could claim for counter-fraud work. The increase in 2001-02 was due to the replacement of the Weekly Benefit Saving Scheme by the New Incentive Scheme. A further increase in subsidy paid in 2003/04 stemmed from increases in the rewards for anti-fraud work.  Source: 1997-98 to 2000-01 data are from the DWP Appropriation Accounts; later figures are from the DWP Resource Accounts.

Incapacity Benefit

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many, and what percentage of claimants left incapacity benefit at the  (a) four month and  (b) 12 month stage of their claim in (i) Pathways to Work areas and (ii) non-pathways area, in each quarter since January 2003.

Jim Murphy: The available information is in the tables. Figures for the latest quarter do not include any late notifications and are subject to major changes in future quarters. For illustration purposes total terminations for May 2004 increased by 33 per cent. in the year following their initial release.
	
		
			  Number and percentage of incapacity benefit (IB)/severe disablement allowance (SDA) terminations in Pathways to Work areas 
			  Quarter ending  Up to 4 months  Up to 4 months (percentage)  4-12 months  4-12 months (percentage) 
			 November 2003 1,000 — 800 — 
			 February 2004 2,600 2.4 1,800 1.7 
			 May 2004 5,200 4.8 3,700 3.4 
			 August 2004 5,900 2.5 4,500 1.9 
			 November 2004 5,400 2.3 3,900 1.7 
			 February 2005 5,300 2.2 3,600 1.5 
			 May 2005 5,400 2.3 3,800 1.6 
			 August 2005 4,600 2.0 2,900 1.3 
			 November 2005 5,100 2.2 3,600 1.6 
			 February 2006 5,100 2.2 3,000 1.3 
			 May 2006 4,700 2.0 4,000 1.7 
			 August 2006 4,000 1.7 2,900 1.3 
		
	
	
		
			  Number and percentage of incapacity benefit (IB)/severe disablement allowance (SDA) terminations in non -Pathways to Work areas 
			  Quarter ending  Up to 4 months  Up to 4 months (percentage)  4-12 months  4-12 months (percentage) 
			 February 2003 41,800 1.5 36,100 1.3 
			 May 2003 55,300 2.0 46,900 1.7 
			 August 2003 55,800 2.1 47,000 1.7 
			 November 2003 57,100 2.1 46,700 1.7 
			 February 2004 48,600 1.9 44,100 1.7 
			 May 2004 45,600 1.8 42,300 1.6 
			 August 2004 42,700 1.7 43,900 1.8 
			 November 2004 45,700 1.9 44,100 1.8 
			 February 2005 42,300 1.7 43,300 1.8 
			 May 2005 43,700 1.8 42,800 1.7 
			 August 2005 40,000 1.6 39,800 1.6 
			 November 2005 40,000 1.7 37,400 1.5 
			 February 2006 35,300 1.5 39,700 1.6 
			 May 2006 35,700 1.5 42,500 1.8 
			 August 2006 29,700 1.3 32,600 1.4 
			  Notes.  1. Numbers are rounded to the nearest hundred  2. Numbers are based on a five per cent. sample, and are therefore subject to a degree of sampling variation.  3. These figures should be used as a guide to the current situation only.  4. Local authorities and Government office regions are assigned by matching postcodes against the relevant postcode directory.  5. Bridgend, Renfrewshire and Derbyshire were introduced as the first Pathways to Work areas in October 2003.  6. East Lancashire, Essex, Gateshead and South Tyneside and Somerset were introduced as Pathways to Work areas in April 2004  Source:  Information Directorate five per cent. sample

New Deal

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will list the training providers of the new deal programmes, broken down by region.

Jim Murphy: This Department delivers new deal in England, Scotland and Wales. Information on new deal training providers in the nine English regions, Scotland and Wales is in the following lists and tables.
	 New deal training providers in English Regions
	 East Midlands
	A4e
	Instant Muscle
	TBG Learning
	Employment Opportunities for People with Disabilities
	Fern Training and Development Ltd.
	SEETEC
	Support into Work
	Work in Progress
	Yes2work
	 London
	Career Development Group
	Skills Training
	A4e
	Community Links
	Maatwerk
	Mencap
	SEETEC
	Sencia Ltd.
	Shaw Trust
	Status Employment Ltd.
	YMCA Training
	 North East
	A4e
	Training Network Group Ltd.
	Working Links
	DISC
	City Centre Training (Northern)
	Shaw Trust
	 Yorkshire and Humber
	A4e
	Best Ltd.
	Fern training and Development Ltd.
	The Calderdale Colleges Corporation
	Wakefield Council
	YH Training Services
	 South East
	A4e
	Career Development Group
	TBG Learning
	Enham
	WTCS
	Oxfordshire Employment Service
	Portsmouth Craft and Manufacturing Industries
	SCOPE
	Support Shop
	Workbridge Enterprises
	 South West
	A4e
	BTCV
	Bournemouth and Poole College
	Prospects Services
	SEETEC
	WTCS
	 North West
	Training Network Group Ltd.
	A4e (Action for Employment)
	Crosby Training
	MBW Training Services LLP
	Training West Lanes Ltd.
	BTCV
	Standguide
	Inspire to Independence
	Employment and Regeneration Partnership
	First Asian Support Trust (FAST) Ltd
	Local solutions
	NWENET
	Shaw Trust
	Training into Employment (TIE) Oldham MBC
	Voluntary Action Vale Royal
	 East of England
	Training Network Group
	YMCA Training
	Kennedy Scott
	A4e
	Anglia Training Services
	North Hertfordshire College
	Shaw Trust
	Armstrong Learning
	Mencap
	North Hertfordshire College
	Papworth Trust
	Remploy
	Richmond Fellowship Employment and Training
	Royal British Legion Industries Employment Service
	SEETEC
	Shackleton Associates
	 West Midlands
	Pertemps People Development Group
	Biscom Resource Management
	Dudley MBC Future Skills
	ETW WARWICKSHIRE
	Juniper Training
	Shropshire County Training
	Steps to Work Walsall
	A4e
	Birmingham CC
	Warwickshire CC
	Work Directions UK
	WTCS
	Work First
	 New  d eal training providers in Scotland
	The Wise Group
	Triage Central Ltd.
	Claverhouse Training
	SCVO
	Support Training Ltd.
	A4e
	Argyll and Bute Council
	East Dunbartonshire Council
	Glasgow Mentoring Network
	Lauder College
	West Lothian Council
	The North Highland College
	Edinburgh University Settlement
	Intowork
	Quadrant
	Scout Enterprises (Western)
	The Shirlie Project
	Shaw Trust
	Swansea College
	Management Introductions
	Moray College
	Reed in Partnership PLC
	 New  d eal training providers in Wales
	A4e Wales Ltd.
	Carmarthenshire CC Training and Technology Centre
	DASH Training South Wales LLP
	Hyfforddiant Ceredigion Training
	Pembrokeshire CC
	Scout Enterprises
	SOVA
	Swansea College
	TD Training Ltd.
	Tydfil training Consortium
	Caerphilly CBC
	
		
			  New  deal self-employment training providers in English Regions 
			   Regions 
			 Norfolk and Waveney Enterprise Agency Yorkshire and Humber, East Midlands and East of England 
			 Inbiz North West and North East 
			 Birmingham Chamber of Commerce South West and West Midlands 
			 Training Network Group Limited London and the South East 
		
	
	 New  deal self-employment training providers in Scotland
	Inbiz
	 New  d eal self-employment training providers in Wales
	Birmingham Chamber of Commerce
	
		
			  New deal for  musicians training providers in English regions 
			   Country 
			 Armstrong Learning Ltd. England 
		
	
	 New deal for musicians training providers in Scotland
	Scottish Cultural Enterprise Limited
	 New deal for musicians training providers in Wales
	Quadrant Media and Communications Limited
	 Note:
	This Department is not responsible for the provision of employment and training programmes in Northern Ireland.

New Deal for Long Term Unemployed

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people were on the new deal 25 plus programme for the  (a) first time,  (b) second time,  (c) third time,  (d) fourth time,  (e) fifth time and  (f) sixth time or greater in each month since 1998.

Jim Murphy: holding answer 1 March 2007
	Some people will return to new deal after leaving the programme, but this is inevitable in a dynamic labour market. New deal 25 plus has to be considered in the context of the people it sets out to help. People who suffer long periods of unemployment can find it particularly difficult to get back to and remain in work. The longer they are unemployed, the greater the barriers to getting work, and helping them into work is a considerable achievement.
	The available information is in the following table.
	
		
			  New deal 25 plus participants 
			   Participating for 
			  Month  First time  Second time  Third time  Fourth time  Fifth time  Sixth time or greater 
			 April 2001 7,500 2,330 720 30 0 0 
			 May 2001 13,990 3,850 1,050 50 0 0 
			 June 2001 20,690 5,380 1,360 90 0 0 
			 July 2001 25,370 6,490 1,590 150 0 0 
			 August 2001 30,820 7,710 1,860 250 0 0 
			 September 2001 33,960 8,720 2,150 380 10 0 
			 October 2001 35,900 9,660 2,730 550 10 0 
			 November2001 37,950 11,040 3,530 780 10 0 
			 December 2001 39,680 11,770 4,060 870 20 0 
			 January 2002 40,180 12,020 4,290 1,010 20 0 
			 February 2002 40,400 11,940 4,420 1,050 20 0 
			 March 2002 40,610 11,830 4,550 1,180 20 0 
			 April 2002 40,770 11,750 4,640 1,210 20 0 
			 May 2002 40,920 11,960 4,910 1,250 30 0 
			 June 2002 40,710 11,900 5,090 1,240 30 0 
			 July 2002 40,230 12,070 5,320 1,320 40 0 
			 August 2002 39,630 12,270 5,540 1,450 50 0 
			 September 2002 38,740 12,140 5,650 1,580 60 0 
			 October 2002 41,170 12,700 6,190 1,870 80 0 
			 November 2002 42,330 13,270 6,660 2,090 90 0 
			 December 2002 43,060 13,550 6,860 2,220 110 0 
			 January 2003 42,950 13,520 6,930 2,370 120 0 
			 February 2003 42,470 13,340 6,880^ 2,400 120 10 
			 March 2003 41,990 13,110 6,730 2,340 130 0 
			 April 2003 42,060 13,100 6,650 2,350 130 10 
			 May 2003 42,270 13,020 6,450 2,230 130 10 
			 June 2003 41,910 12,700 6,170 2,120 130 10 
			 July 2003 41,420 12,610 5,860 2,000 140 10 
			 August 2003 40,900 12,530 5,650 1,920 130 10 
			 September 2003 40,200 12,410 5,450 1,810 140 10 
			 October 2003 39,380 12,380 5,280 1,750 150 10 
			 November 2003 38,510 12,420 5,180 1,690 170 10 
			 December 2003 38,340 12,590 5,160 1,690 190 10 
			 January 2004 37,560 12,690 5,060 1,660 200 10 
			 February 2004 36,830 12,660 5,060 1,630 230 10 
			 March 2004 35,820 12,680 4,950 1,630 250 10 
			 April 2004 35,130 12,660 4,930 1,680 300 10 
			 May 2004 34,970 12,740 4,900 1,710 300 20 
			 June 2004 34,610 12,760 4,880 1,740 330 20 
			 July 2004 34,660 12,660 4,850 1,810 350 10 
			 August 2004 35,010 12,820 4,990 1,930 390 20 
			 September 2004 34,700 12,820 4,990 1,970 410 20 
			 October 2004 34,250 12,740 4,990 2,020 450 30 
			 November 2004 34,210 12,730 5,040 2,080 470 40 
			 December 2004 34,670 12,940 5,110 2,220 510 50 
			 January 2005 34,540 13,010 5,030 2,210 510 50 
			 February 20005 34,550 13,040 5,030 2,210 550 50 
			 March 2005 34,110 12,870 5,000 2,170 580 40 
			 April 2005 33,440 12,610 4,950 2,140 630 40 
			 May 2005 33,000 12,570 4,950 2,110 630 50 
			 June 2005 32,500 12,550 4,920 2,120 650 50 
			 July 2005 31,670 12,280 4,870 2,050 650 60 
			 August 2005 31,230 12,150 4,820 2,070 650 60 
			 September 2005 30,380 11,850 4,740 2,000 660 60 
			 October 2005 29,680 11,610 4,700 2,020 650 60 
			 November 2005 29,330 11,540 4,680 1,960 630 60 
			 December 2005 29,410 11,690 4,790 1,970 640 70 
			 January 2006 29,460 11,540 4,720 1,970 640 70 
			 February 2006 29,570 11,640 4,760 1,940 640 80 
			 March 2006 29,510 11,570 4,750 2,000 660 80 
			 April 2006 29,460 11,590 4,810 2,040 680 80 
			 May 2006 29,790 11,650 4,920 2,070 680 110 
			 June 2006 29,860 11,720 4,990 2,130 700 120 
			 July 2006 30,020 11,860 5,040 2,180 730 120 
			 August 2006 30,460 12,030 5,190 2,250 780 130 
			  Notes: 1. Data on participants is only available from April 2001, when the programme was enhanced. 2. Latest information is at August 2006. 3. Figures are rounded to nearest 10.  Source: Information Directorate, DWP

New Deal Schemes

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the total value was of the subsidy paid to employers participating in the new deal programme in each year since 1997.

Jim Murphy: holding answer 7 February 2007
	 The information is in the following table.
	
		
			  Subsidies paid to new deal employers 
			  £ 
			   Programme  Subsidy  Total 
			 1998-99 New Deal for Young People 12,833,938 (1)16,212,447 
			  New Deal 25 plus 3,378,508 (1)— 
			 
			 1999-2000 New Deal for Young People 26,796,246 (2)40,979,584 
			  New Deal 25 plus 14,183,337 (2)— 
			 2000-01 New Deal for Young People 15,822,914 (3)29,368,663 
			  New Deal 25 plus 13,545,748 (3)— 
			 
			 2001-02 New Deal for Young People 14,437,503 (4)26,352,038 
			  New Deal 25 plus 11,914,534 (4)— 
			 
			 2002-03 New Deal for Young People 14,018,071 (5)26,749,631 
			  New Deal 25 plus 12,731,560 (5)— 
			 
			 2003-04 New Deal for Young People 12,109,282 (6)22,066,686 
			  New Deal 25 plus 9,957,404 (6)— 
			 
			 2004-05 New Deal for Young People 8,740,573 (7)15,309,518 
			  New Deal 25 plus 6,568,944 (7)— 
			 
			 2005-06 New Deal for Young People 8,442,265 (8)14,765,999 
			  New Deal 25 plus 6,323,734 (8)— 
			  Notes:  1. Subsidies are only paid to employers through new deal for young people and new deal 25 plus.  2. The employment subsidy paid to employers through new deal for young people is £60 per week for up to 26 weeks for people working 30 plus hours a week, and £40 per week for people working 24-29 hours a week.  3. For new deal 25 plus, the subsidy paid to employers is £75 per week for up to 26 weeks for people they employ working 30 hours a week or more and £50 a week for people working 16-29 hours a week.  4. Employers who employ disabled people who meet the DDA definition of disability through either new deal are paid the full subsidy even if the vacancy advertised is for less than 16 hours a week.  5. New deal for young people started in January 1998 and new deal 25 plus started in July 1998.  6. Latest full year data is to March 2006.  Source:  Jobcentre Plus Finance Directorate

New Deal Schemes

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many participants there were on the New Deal for Partners for  (a) the first time,  (b) the second time,  (c) the third time and  (d) the fourth or more time in each month since 1998.

Jim Murphy: The available information is in the following table.
	
		
			  New deal for partners 
			Of which, participating for the: 
			   Participants  First time  Second time  Third time  Fourth time 
			 April 2004 90 90 — — — 
			 May 2004 320 320 — — — 
			 June 2004 470 470 — — — 
			 July 2004 680 670 10 — — 
			 August 2004 840 830 10 — — 
			 September 2004 1,010 1,000 10 — — 
			 October 2004 1,250 1,230 10 — — 
			 November 2004 1,440 1,420 20 — — 
			 December 2004 1,530 1,510 20 — — 
			 January 2005 1,690 1,660 30 — — 
			 February 2005 1,850 1,820 30 — — 
			 March 2005 2,020 1,990 30 — — 
			 April 2005 2,210 2,170 40 — — 
			 May 2005 2,310 2,270 50 — — 
			 June 2005 2,410 2,350 50 — — 
			 July 2005 2,490 2,430 60 — — 
			 August 2005 2,490 2,430 60 — — 
			 September 2005 2,580 2,520 60 — — 
			 October 2005 2,620 2,560 60 — — 
			 November 2005 2,660 2,600 60 — — 
			 December 2005 2,660 2,600 60 — — 
			 January 2006 2,700 2,630 70 — — 
			 February 2006 2,800 2,720 80 — — 
			 March 2006 2,940 2,850 90 — — 
			 April 2006 3,000 2,910 80 — — 
			 May 2006 3,060 2,970 90 — — 
			 June 2006 3,100 3,010 90 — — 
			 July 2006 3,140 3,040 100 — — 
			 August 2006 3,180 3,070 100 — — 
			  Notes: 1. New deal for partners started in April 1999. 2. Data are only available from April 2004. 3. Latest data are to August 2006. 4. People can be, and will be, included as participating in more than one month if the time spent on new deal for partners exceeded one month.  5. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10. 6. Where the number is between 0 and 4 it will be recorded as a dash in the table.  Source: Information Directorate, Department for Work and Pensions.

Pension Credit

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners his Department estimates are eligible for pension credit in  (a) the UK and  (b) Wales; how many pensioners in (i) the UK and (ii) Wales have taken up pension credit each year since it was introduced; and if he will make a statement.

James Purnell: Estimates of eligibility and therefore take-up are not available below the level of Great Britain, it is not therefore possible to say how many people are eligible to pension credit or what the take-up is in Wales.
	The latest estimate of the number of pensioners entitled to pension credit in Great Britain is between 3.7 million and 4.2 million.
	The latest estimates of the take-up of the main income-related benefits: income support, pension credit, housing benefit, council tax benefit and jobseeker's allowance (income-based) in Great Britain can be found in the DWP report entitled "Income Related Benefits Estimates of Take-Up in 2004/2005". Copies of the publication are available in the Library.
	Pension credit has been highly successful in reducing pensioner poverty and now, after housing costs have been accounted for, pensioners are less likely to be in poverty than the population as a whole. Since the introduction of pension credit, the number of pensioners in relative poverty has fallen by half a million.
	We continue to make every effort to ensure that pension credit goes to those who are entitled to it. The table shows the number of households in Great Britain and Wales receiving pension credit each year since its introduction.
	In Northern Ireland pension credit administration is a matter for the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.
	
		
			  Pension credit household recipients 
			   Great Britain  Wales 
			 November 2003 2,084,700 121,890 
			 August 2004 2,592,590 151,980 
			 August 2005 2,696,660 159,290 
			 August 2006 2,728,150 162,050 
			  Notes: 1. Caseload figures are rounded to the nearest 10/100. 2. Pension credit was introduced on 6 October 2003 and replaced minimum income guarantee (income support for people aged 60 or over). 3. Household recipients are those people who claim pension credit either for themselves only or on behalf of a household.  Source: DWP Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study 100 per cent. data

Pension Credit: Wales

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in each constituency in Wales were in receipt of pension credit in each year since 2003; and how much was claimed in pension credit in each Welsh constituency in each year; and if he will make a statement.

James Purnell: The answer is set out in the following table.
	
		
			  Household recipients of pension credit and the cost of pension credit expenditure for constituencies in Wales—November 2003 and November 2004 
			  Parliamentary constituencies  Number of household recipients November 2003 (thousand)  Annual minimum income guarantee and pension credit expenditure 2003 (£ million nominal terms)  Number of household recipients November 2004 (thousand)  Annual pension credit expenditure 2004 (£ million nominal terms) 
			 Aberavon 3.33 7.7 4.21 9.8 
			 Alyn and Deeside 2.47 5.3 3.23 6.8 
			 Blaenau Gwent 3.80 8.2 4.65 10.0 
			 Brecon and Radnorshire 2.31 5.2 3.05 6.7 
			 Bridgend 2.92 6.7 3.72 8.5 
			 Caernarfon 3.06 6.5 3.69 8.0 
			 Caerphilly 3.56 8.3 4.59 10.4 
			 Cardiff Central 2.05 5.2 2.45 6.3 
			 Cardiff North 2.11 4.8 2.72 6.2 
			 Cardiff South and Penarth 4.31 10.5 5.15 12.8 
			 Cardiff West 3.51 8.4 4.24 10.6 
			 Carmarthen East and Dinefwr 2.80 6.1 3.66 8.0 
			 Carmarathen West and South Pembrokeshire 2.94 6.6 3.95 8.9 
			 Ceredigion 2.37 5.4 3.20 7.3 
			 Clwyd South 3.02 6.8 3.81 8.5 
			 Clwyd West 3.32 7.5 4.24 9.6 
			 Conwy 3.00 6.6 3.76 8.2 
			 Cynon Valley 2.99 6.7 3.88 8.9 
			 Delyn 2.68 5.7 3.42 7.3 
			 Gower 2.76 6.2 3.44 7.8 
			 Islwyn 2.80 6.0 3.65 7.7 
			 Llanelli 4.17 9.7 5.14 11.9 
			 Meirionnydd Nant Conwy 1.75 3.8 2.33 5.0 
			 Merthyr Tydfil and Fhymney 3.44 7.9 4.42 10.3 
			 Monmouth 2.48 5.5 3.21 7.2 
			 Montgomeryshire 1.94 4.0 2.61 5.5 
			 Neath 3.27 7.4 4.31 9.7 
			 Newport East 2.57 6.0 3.38 7.7 
			 Newport West 3.35 7.9 4.16 9.9 
			 Ogmore 2.88 6.5 3.78 8.6 
			 Pontypridd 3.19 6.9 4.09 8.8 
			 Preseli Pembrokeshire 2.75 5.8 3.83 8.0 
			 Rhondda 4.13 9.0 5.19 11.5 
			 Swansea East 3.70 8.7 4.52 10.7 
			 Swansea West 3.74 8.9 4.46 11.0 
			 Torfaen 3.62 7.9 4.51 9.9 
			 Vale of Clwyd 3.80 9.0 4.64 11.0 
			 Vale of Glamorgan 3.03 6.9 3.74 8.6 
			 Wrexham 2.87 6.4 3.55 7.9 
			 Ynys Mon 3.10 7.2 3.95 9.2 
			  
			 Wales 121.89 275.9 154.55 350.3 
		
	
	
		
			  Household recipients of pension credit and the cost of pension credit expenditure for constituencies in Wales—November 2005 and August 2006 
			  Parliamentary constituencies  Number of household recipients November 2005 (thousand)  Annual minimum income guarantee and pension credit expenditure 2005 (£ million nominal terms)  Number of household recipients August 2006 (thousand)  Annual pension credit expenditure 2006 (£ million nominal terms) 
			 Aberavon 4.46 10.9 4.52 11.7 
			 Alyn and Deeside 3.39 7.4 3.40 7.8 
			 Blaenau Gwent 4.75 10.8 4.81 11.6 
			 Brecon and Radnorshire 3.15 7.2 3.18 7.8 
			 Bridgend 3.85 9.2 3.89 9.8 
			 Caernarfon 3.77 8.5 3.77 9.0 
			 Caerphilly 4.79 11.4 4.89 12.3 
			 Cardiff Central 2.50 6.7 2.57 7.2 
			 Cardiff North 2.85 6.7 2.91 7.3 
			 Cardiff South and Penarth 5.37 14.0 5.35 14.8 
			 Cardiff West 4.40 11.5 4.40 12.1 
			 Carmarthen East and Dinefwr 3.80 8.5 3.87 9.2 
			 Carmarathen West and South Pembrokeshire 4.08 9.4 4.15 10.0 
			 Ceredigion 3.30 7.7 3.37 8.3 
			 Clwyd South 3.92 9.0 3.96 9.7 
			 Clwyd West 4.39 10.5 4.52 11.6 
			 Conwy 3.90 9.0 3.90 9.6 
			 Cynon Valley 4.03 9.7 4.06 10.4 
			 Delyn 3.49 7.8 3.53 8.5 
			 Gower 3.59 8.4 3.58 9.0 
			 Islwyn 3.77 8.3 3.83 8.9 
			 Llanelli 5.29 12.8 5.30 13.3 
			 Meirionnydd Nant Conwy 2.45 5.6 2.49 6.0 
			 Merthyr Tydfil and Fhymney 4.58 11.0 4.65 11.8 
			 Monmouth 3.36 7.9 3.41 8.6 
			 Montgomeryshire 2.72 6.0 2.77 6.5 
			 Neath 4.48 10.5 4.54 11.4 
			 Newport East 3.54 8.3 3.62 9.1 
			 Newport West 4.32 10.6 4.40 11.5 
			 Ogmore 3.94 9.3 3.92 9.8 
			 Pontypridd 4.33 9.8 4.41 10.5 
			 Preseli Pembrokeshire 3.97 8.5 4.02 9.2 
			 Rhondda 5.46 12.6 5.50 13.4 
			 Swansea East 4.68 11.5 4.74 12.4 
			 Swansea West 4.55 11.5 4.57 12.3 
			 Torfaen 4.64 10.7 4.71 11.5 
			 Vale of Clwyd 4.81 11.8 4.90 12.6 
			 Vale of Glamorgan 3.93 9.4 4.03 10.5 
			 Wrexham 3.61 8.4 3.58 8.8 
			 Ynys Mon 4.04 9.7 4.03 10.1 
			  
			 Wales 160.22 378.4 162.05 406.0 
			  Notes: 1. Expenditure figures are consistent with the published PBR 2006 Great Britain pension credit outturn annual totals and are rounded to the nearest £100,000. 2. The number of households in receipt are rounded to the nearest 10. 3. Totals may not sum due to rounding. 4. Caseloads and average weekly amounts for November 2003, November 2004, November 2005 and August 2006 have been used to calculate the annual expenditure figures for each constituency in Wales. 5. Household recipients are those people who claim pension credit either for themselves only or on behalf of a household.  Source: DWP Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study 100 per cent. data and DWP Benefit Expenditure Tables

Pensioner Poverty

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate  (a) how many pensioners were living in deep poverty, defined as a household income below 40 per cent. of median household earnings and  (b) how many such pensioners were not claiming the full pension credit or minimum income guarantee they were entitled to in each year since 1997-98.

James Purnell: The most common and internationally recognised threshold to measure poverty is income below 60 per cent. of median. We do not present information covering 40 per cent. of median income in our Households Below Average Income series as it is not a good measure of poverty. This is because households stating the lowest incomes to the Family Resources Survey (FRS) may not actually have the lowest living standards. Many people who report very low incomes appear to have high spending. Hence any statistics on numbers in this group may be misleading.
	Specific information regarding low income for the United Kingdom is available in 'Households Below Average Income 1994-95 to 2005-06' (HBAI). This annual report, which is a National Statistics publication, includes the numbers and proportions of individuals, children, working age adults and pensioners with incomes below 50 per cent., 60 per cent. and 70 per cent. of median income, and the proportions in persistent poverty.
	Pension credit has been highly successful in reducing pensioner poverty; since its introduction, the number of pensioners in relative poverty has fallen by over 700,000.
	Now, for the first time in a period of sustained economic growth, pensioners are less likely to be in poverty than the population as a whole, after housing costs are accounted for.
	We continue to make every effort to ensure that pension credit goes to those who are entitled to it. It is more challenging to reach those entitled to smaller amounts, or to the savings credit only, who may be less familiar with the entitlements available to them. The Pension Service has contacted pensioners to encourage them to take up entitlement to pension credit many times already as part of extensive marketing activity. Over 70 per cent. of those pensioners who appear to have entitlement to pension credit have been contacted over five times already. And around 25 per cent. of customers visited about pension credit say that they do not want to make a claim.
	However, we are committed to improving take-up and are continually looking at further ways to target these groups and encouraging them to apply.
	The information requested for pensioners in Great Britain is shown in the following tables. Estimates of entitled non-recipients of MIG or pension credit should be treated with caution. This is especially the case given that we are looking at the extreme of the income distribution and so are less sure of pensioners' modelled entitlement. Results are based on small sample sizes and have not been corrected for biases that may be inherent in estimates of entitlement to income related benefits—that is, they may be based on the data for those who appear to be entitled non-recipients but will not all actually be entitled non recipients and vice versa. Figures are therefore presented as proportions of the total pensioner population below the 40 per cent. of median household income.
	
		
			  Table 1 : Number of pensioners living in households with less than 40 per cent of contemporary median household income, and as a proportion of all pensioners, for the years 1997-98 to 2005-06, Great Britain 
			   After housing costs  (Million)  As a proportion of all pensioners  (Percentage) 
			 1997-98 0.47 5 
			 1998-99 0.49 5 
			 1999-2000 0.49 5 
			 2000-01 0.46 5 
			 2001-02 0.51 5 
			 2002-03 0.47 5 
			 2003-04 0.51 5 
			 2004-05 0.45 4 
			 2005-06 0.46 4 
			  Notes: 1. Figures are presented after housing costs as this is our preferred measure for pensioners. 2. The table shows number of individuals in millions, rounded to the nearest 10 thousand. 3. These figures are not National Statistics and caution must be applied because those people stating the lowest incomes in the FRS may not actually have the lowest living standards. 4. Estimates cover the private household population of Great Britain. The data source is the Family Resources Survey. 5. These figures are calculated using OECD equivalisation factors. Prior to 2002-03 they are based on a GB median and from 2002-03 it is based on a UK median. This is consistent with low income estimates published in the latest edition of Households Below Average Income. The GB median is similar to the UK median. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Proportion of pensioners living in households with income below 40 per cent. of contemporary median household income who were also living in a benefit unit that is entitled but not receiving IS-MIG-PC, Great Britain 
			Percentage 
			   After housing costs  As a proportion of all pensioners 
			 1997-98 36 2 
			 1998-99 35 2 
			 1999-2000 42 2 
			 2000-01 45 2 
			 2001-02 57 3 
			 2002-03 55 3 
			 2003-04 50 2 
			 2004-05 64 3 
			 2005-06 59 3 
			  Notes: 1. Figures are presented after housing costs as this is our preferred measure for pensioners. 2. Estimates of the pensioner population cover those above state pension age (60 for women and 65 for men). The estimates therefore exclude some men aged 60 to 64 and partners of pensioners aged under 60, who may have been eligible but not claiming pension credit. 3. Estimates also exclude those cases where respondents have reported they are awaiting the outcome of a claim for a benefit and have been modelled as entitled to that benefit. 4. Estimates cover the private household population of Great Britain. The data source is the Family Resources Survey. 5. These figures are calculated using OECD equivalisation factors. Prior to 2002-03 they are based on a GB median and from 2002-03 it is based on a UK median. This is consistent with low income estimates published in the latest edition of Households Below Average Income. The GB median is similar to the UK median. 6. minimum income guarantee (MIG) was introduced for pensioners in April 1999 paid through income support. 7. Pension credit (PC) was introduced mid-way through 2003-04; therefore, estimates for 2003-04 cover those pensioners who were entitled but not receiving either MIG or PC. As this relates to the first six months of pension credit the figures should be treated with some caution. 8. For the purposes of this analysis, benefit unit based data (take-up statistics) were combined with household equivalised income based results (Households Below Average Income statistics). 9. Estimates for 2000-2001 and 2003-2004 onwards incorporate the results of a data matching exercise, which links the Family Resources Survey with DWP administrative data in order to identify 'hidden recipients' of MIG-PC, i.e. those people who tell the FRS they do not receive pension credit, but actually do. 10. Estimates are presented as proportions of the total pensioner population below the 40 per cent. of median household income, as the analysis is based on single-year survey data and the absolute numbers of such pensioners who were not claiming the pension credit or minimum income guarantee they were entitled to might be biased due to small sample sizes. 11. These analyses have not been corrected for the biases that may be inherent in estimates of entitlement to income-related benefits—that is, they may be based on the data for those who appear to be entitled non recipients (ENRs) but will not all actually be ENRs and vice versa—and so they should be treated with some caution. 12.The estimates relate only to those who were modelled as entitled to receive benefit but were not identified to be in receipt of any amount of benefit. It therefore does not include cases where a pensioner is in receipt of some benefit, but this is less than the amount they are truly entitled to. Including these cases may not give a reliable indication of full take-up due to the potential error that exists in modelling entitlement.

Pensioners: Social Security Benefits

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much was paid in retirement benefits to  (a) couples,  (b) single men and  (c) single women where the recipients were aged (i) 60 to 64, (ii) 65 to 69, (iii) 70 to 74, (iv) 75 to 79 and (v) over 79 in the latest period for which figures are available.

James Purnell: The information requested is in the following table:
	
		
			  Average benefit income in £ per week, 2004-05 prices 
			   Couples  Single men  Single women 
			 60-64 68 76 120 
			 65-69 178 129 130 
			 70-74 187 134 137 
			 75-79 186 133 134 
			 Over 79 196 139 148 
			  Notes: 1. Benefit income includes national insurance related benefits (basic and additional state pension, widow's benefits and incapacity benefit), income related benefits (pension credit, housing benefit, council tax benefit and social fund grants) and disability related benefits (mainly disability living allowance and attendance allowance). 2. Figures are for Great Britain. 3. Figures have been rounded to the nearest pound. 4. Based on survey data and as such subject to a degree of sampling error. 5. Benefit income is self-reported and consequently can be misreported. 6. The breakdown by age for couples is by the age of the man. 7. The amounts for 60-64 year old couples and single men are lower than for older age groups because 60-64 year old men are not entitled to state pension.  Source:  Pensioners' Incomes Series 2004-05

Pensions: Stroud

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many residents in each electoral ward in Stroud constituency receive pension credit.

James Purnell: The answer is set out in the following table.
	
		
			  Household recipients and individual beneficiaries of pension credit in each ward in Stroud constituency August 2006 
			  Ward Name  Household recipients  Individual beneficiaries 
			 Amberley and Woodchester 50 60 
			 Berkeley 215 260 
			 Bisley 60 75 
			 Cainscross 325 395 
			 Cam East 195 235 
			 Cam West 205 265 
			 Central 70 80 
			 Chalford 165 205 
			 Coaley and Uley 60 80 
			 Dursley 220 265 
			 Eastington and Standish 115 130 
			 Farmhill and Paganhill 120 135 
			 Hardwicke 115 145 
			 Minchinhampton 195 235 
			 Nailsworth 240 290 
			 Over Stroud 50 60 
			 Painswick 115 125 
			 Rodborough 105 130 
			 Severn 170 210 
			 Slade 80 95 
			 Stonehouse 405 490 
			 The Stanleys 200 250 
			 Thrupp 50 65 
			 Trinity 85 95 
			 Uplands 120 140 
			 Upton St Leonards 60 70 
			 Vale 50 65 
			 Valley 85 105 
			 Wotton-under-Edge 260 315 
			
			 Stroud constituency Total 3,950 4,800 
			  Notes:  1. Caseloads are rounded to the nearest five.  2. Wotton-under-Edge crosses the parliamentary constituency boundary.  3. As a result of 1. and 2. totals may not sum.  4. Wards are based on 2003 ward boundaries.  5. Household recipients are those people who claim Pension Credit either for themselves only or on behalf of a household.  6. The number of individual beneficiaries includes both claimants and their partners.   Source:  DWP Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study 100 per cent data.

State Retirement Pensions

Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what impact he expects the Pensions Bill to have on the returns delivered by the financial markets to pensioners over the expected life of those expected to contribute under its proposed arrangements.

James Purnell: The introduction of personal accounts will enable more people to benefit from investment returns in financial markets and to receive higher incomes in retirement. We expect approximately £4-5 billion of additional savings per year as a result of personal accounts.
	The impact on financial markets of such a savings increase is likely to be limited. Funds under management in personal accounts are expected to be invested in a diversified portfolio and are expected to be small compared to existing financial markets. As a result, we would not expect the rates of return delivered by the financial markets to pensioners to be affected significantly by the introduction of personal accounts.

Council Tax

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential for reductions in council tax arising from proposals from shire counties for unitary authorities based on  (a) county councils and  (b) district councils.

Phil Woolas: If implemented, the unitary proposals that we are consulting on have the potential of delivering savings of up to around £200 million per annum. It will be for those local authorities whose bids are implemented, to decide whether they use any part of those savings to reduce council tax.

Local Enterprise Growth Initiative

Andrew Stunell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  what the budget is for the Local Enterprise Growth Initiative in 2006-07; and what budget is planned for  (a) 2007-08 and  (b) 2008-09;
	(2)  what estimate she has made of the cost of administering the Local Enterprise Growth Initiative in 2007-08.

Phil Woolas: The budget for years 2006-07, 2007-08 and 2008-09 are given in the following table. Please note that these figures exclude a possible third round of LEGI which is dependent on the outcome of the comprehensive spending review.
	
		
			  £ 
			   Round 1  Round 2  Total 
			 2006-07 31,196,136 n/a 31,196,136 
			 2007-08 45,723,021 49,997,471 95,720,492 
			 2008-09 49,132,091 53,913,129 103,045,220 
		
	
	The cost of administering LEGI in 2007-08 will be sensitive to a decision in CSR on whether there will be a third round of LEGI, and the timing of a third round. However, indicative costs for central Government administration spend for 2006-07 were £112,050, or 0.36 per cent . of the total budget for that year. I anticipate that administrative costs should remain broadly the same next year.
	It is for local partnerships responsible for delivering LEGI to determine the proportion of their budget that is necessary and appropriate to efficiently administer the programme. We encourage partnerships to evaluate their spend against outcomes to help them achieve good value for money.

Departments: Postal Services

Christopher Fraser: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which postal companies handle mail dispatched by his Department and its agencies.

Liam Byrne: The Department including its executive agencies has mail contracts with Royal Mail and Secure Mail Services Ltd.

Driving Offences: Fixed Penalties

Jeremy Browne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were issued with a fixed penalty notice for  (a) failing to wear a seat belt and  (b) speeding in each of the last five years.

Vernon Coaker: holding answer 27 March 2007
	 : Available information on seat belt and speed limit offences taken from the Fixed Penalty Notices Collection held by the Office for Criminal Justice Reform, from 2000 to 2004 (latest available) is provided in the table.
	2005 data will be available later this year.
	
		
			  Fixed penalty notices issued( 1)  for seat belt( 2)  and speed limit( 3)  offences, England and Wales, 2000 to 2004 
			  Thousand 
			   2000  2001  2002  2003  2004 
			 Seat belt offences(2) 155 144 126 146 202 
			 Speed limit offences(3) 942 1,151 1,407 1,895 1,924 
			 (1) Covers tickets paid where there is no further action. (2) Offences under the Road Traffic Act 1988 ss.14 (3) and 15 (2) & (4). (3) Offences under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 ss. 16, 81, 84, 86, 88 & 89; Motor Vehicles (Speed Limits on Motorways) Regs. 1973; Parks Regulation (Amendment) Act 1926 - byelaws made thereunder.  Note:  Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.

Standford Hill Prison

Roger Gale: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many prisoners absconded from HMP Standford Hill in each year since 1992;
	(2)  how many prisoners who have absconded from HMP Standford Hill were not recaptured and returned in each year since 1992;
	(3)  how many prisoners, returned to HMP Standford Hill having absconded, were dealt with under prison disciplinary procedures in each year since 1987.

Gerry Sutcliffe: holding answer 28 March 2007
	 The following table sets out the number of absconds that have occurred from Standford Hill prison in each financial year since 1995-96. It is not possible to provide data for previous years as there are no central records prior to 1995-96. Data for the current financial year are provisional and subject to further validation as part of the in-year and final end of year validation process.
	The prison service is currently developing a mechanism for collating recapture data. At the moment the only way of providing this information is for every prison to interrogate records to determine whether any of Standford Hill's absconders were subsequently received in any other prison following recapture and what disciplinary action, in addition to being returned to closed conditions, was taken. This could be undertaken only at disproportionate cost.
	
		
			  Absconds f rom Standford Hill p rison 
			   Number 
			 1995-96 50 
			 1996-97 71 
			 1997-98 35 
			 1998-99 40 
			 1999-00 43 
			 2000-01 29 
			 2001-02 37 
			 2002-03 83 
			 2003-04 89 
			 2004-05 39 
			 2005-06 58 
			 2006-07(1) 32 
			 (1 )Data for the current financial year includes absconds from 1 April 2006 to 28 February 2007

Women's Prisons

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many UK institutions held adult female prisoners in each year since 1992; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  how many prison places were available for adult female prisoners in each year since 1992; and if he will make a statement.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Home Secretary is responsible only for prisons in England and Wales. Responsibility for prisons in Scotland and Northern Ireland lies with the Scottish Assembly and the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland respectively.
	The following table shows the number of prisons in England and Wales that held adult women prisoners in June each year since 1992.
	
		
			   Number of prisons 
			 1992 12 
			 1993 12 
			 1994 12 
			 1995 13 
			 1996 14 
			 1997 15 
			 1998 17 
			 1999 16 
			 2000 16 
			 2001 17 
			 2002 19 
			 2003 19 
			 2004 19 
			 2005 19 
			 2006 16 
		
	
	The number of prison places available for adult women prisoners in each year since 1992 is shown in the following table:
	
		
			   Adult female CNA( 1)  places( 2) 
			 1992 1,765 
			 1993 1,782 
			 1994 1,731 
			 1995 1,928 
			 1996 2,028 
			 1997 2,515 
			 1998 2,829 
			 1999 2,899 
			 2000 3,092 
			 2001 3,275 
			 2002 4,063 
			 2003 4,225 
			 2004 4,440 
			 2005 4,604 
			 2006 4,457 
			 (1) CNA—Certified Normal Accommodation, or uncrowded capacity, is the Prison Service's own measure of accommodation. (2) Operational capacity figures for adult female prisons only are not available. Operational capacity is determined for the whole prison, and cannot be sub-divided for different population groups, such as adult female prisoners.

G8 Summit

James Gray: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is planning to attend the G8 Summit of Finance Ministers in Germany in 2007.

Edward Balls: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given to the hon. Member for Bromley and Chislehurst (Robert Neill) earlier today.

Taxation

Michael Fallon: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his most recent estimate is of the proportion of income a household on average earnings will spend on taxes in 2007-08.

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his most recent estimate is of the proportion of income a household on average earnings will spend on taxes in 2007-08.

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his most recent estimate is of the proportion of income a household on average earnings will spend on taxes in 2007-08.

Edward Balls: I refer the hon. Gentlemen to the answer given to the hon. Members for Broxbourne (Mr. Walker) and Hammersmith and Fulham (Mr. Hands) earlier today.

Office of Government Commerce

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will estimate  (a) the savings delivered to the Exchequer by the activities of the Office of Government Commerce (OCG) in each year since it was established and  (b) the savings made on each OCG programme in each year.

John Healey: The Office of Government Commerce (OGC) reports against two Public Service Agreement targets, and the following tables detail the savings made against these two major programmes.
	 Value for Money
	OGC reports value for money (vfm) gains in central Government civil procurement through improvements in the success rate of programmes and projects and through other commercial initiatives:
	
		
			  £ million 
			   Total vfm gains  Direct Negotiations  Joint Procurement  Reduced process costs  Gateway and other improved contract or asset management 
			 2005-06 2600 806 484 79 1,231 
			 2004-05 2262 677 410 113 1,062 
			 2003-04 2086 655 466 178 787 
			 2002-03 767 542 114 52 59 
			 2001-02 401 220 86 40 55 
			 2000-01 414 304 22 36 52 
		
	
	 The Efficiency Programme
	The 2004 Spending Review set targets for the Government to achieve annual efficiency gains of over £20 billion and gross workforce reductions of more than 84,000 by 2007-08.
	Progress is as follows:
	
		
			   Efficiency Gains (£ billion)  Comments 
			 2005-2006 - year one of programme 9.8 (by 31 March 2006) Figure published in HMT CSR 07 document (13 July 2006) 
			 2006-2007 - year two of programme (1)15.5 (by 31 Dec 2006) Figure announced in budget 2007 
			 (1) Cumulative figure covering first 21 months of programme.

Public Sector: Pensions

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his latest estimates are of spending on public service pensions as a share of gross domestic product in each year from 2005-06 to 2050-51; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: The latest public service pension projections covering a 50-year horizon were published by HM Treasury in the 2006 Long-Term Public Finance report, table 5.1. The report shows that spending as a share of GDP is projected to be very stable over the coming decades, fluctuating between1.8 per cent. in 2015-16 to 2 per cent. of GDP in 2055-56. The report publishes projections on a 10-year basis.

Youth Sport Trust

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he expects the National Youth Volunteering Organisation to play a role in administering funds for the Youth Sport Trust programme he announced on 7 February.

David Miliband: I have been asked to reply.
	The Youth Sport Trust programme is being funded v following their successful application to v's grants 1 funding round. The Youth Sport Trust programme aims to provide technical coaching, such as refereeing and umpiring, to 16-19 year olds, creating over one thousand volunteering opportunities.
	As the grant provider, v will monitor the grants made by the Youth Sport Trust, ensuring the funds are spent to agreed quality standards, deliverables, timescales and budget.

Community Support Officers

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many police community support officers he expects to be employed in each police district command unit area following their introduction in Northern Ireland.

Paul Goggins: The deployment of PCSOs across police district command units is an operational matter for the chief constable.
	I am advised by the chief constable that a number of options for the deployment of PCSOs are currently being discussed but no decision on this has yet been taken.

Elections: Proof of Identity

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimate he has made of the number of people turned away from polling stations in each constituency in Northern Ireland on 7 March for not having the correct identification.

David Hanson: The following table provides a breakdown by constituency of how many people were turned away from the polling station for not producing the correct photographic identification at the Assembly elections held on 7 March. It also provides a further breakdown of the types of invalid identification which were produced.
	The total number of people turned away at polling stations for having the incorrect identification was 4,161 out of a total of 700,699 who turned up to vote (0.6 per cent.). It is not known whether these people returned with the correct identification. This compares with the 3,493 out of 702,249 people turned away for the same reason for the 2003 Assembly election.
	
		
			  Constituency  No documents  Out of date Driving Licence  Out of date Passport  Out of date Smart Pass  Works pass  Allowance book  Medical card  Student I.D  Foreign I.D  Other( 1)  Totals 
			 Belfast West 25 47 84 20 24 7 10 29 — 22 268 
			 Belfast East 31 43 35 16 6 1 5 2 3 13 155 
			 Belfast North 42 33 48 17 8 — 6 10 2 30 196 
			 Belfast South 33 49 33 12 9 — 3 3 7 29 178 
			 Strangford 25 57 30 7 5 — 1 3 — 28 156 
			 North Down 23 35 16 2 1 1 4 1 — 27 110 
			 North Antrim 42 103 38 11 5 — 8 2 1 50 260 
			 Mid Ulster 21 143 28 8 12 1 4 11 4 63 295 
			 Upper Bann 23 87 53 22 10 3 9 5 11 48 271 
			 Newry and Armagh 54 162 82 24 9 1 9 4 6 62 413 
			 Lagan Valley 29 70 33 21 9 — 3 7 6 23 201 
			 South Down 53 128 34 12 13 1 8 2 — 22 273 
			 Foyle 25 82 64 16 14 — 3 4 1 25 234 
			 East Londonderry 26 61 30 21 13 1 4 2 — 39 197 
			 West Tyrone 31 52 48 30 11 — 7 7 2 39 227 
			 Fermanagh and S. Tyrone 40 185 49 16 9 1 8 8 16 55 387 
			 East Antrim 21 52 17 18 6 — 2 5 2 31 154 
			 South Antrim 30 67 28 20 8 1 3 1 3 25 186 
			 Totals 574 1456 750 293 172 18 97 106 64 631 4161 
			 (1 )Includes store cards, photocopied documents, HMCR documents etc.

Police Service of Northern Ireland: Telephone Services

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much the Police Service of Northern Ireland spent on external consultants in relation to improving call handling in each of the last five years; and what assessment he has made of the effects of such expenditure.

Paul Goggins: The Police Service of Northern Ireland expenditure on external consultants in relation to improving call handling in the last five years is as follows:
	
		
			  Table 1: External expenditure on consultancy in relation to improving call handling 
			  Financial year  External consultancy (£) 
			 2002-03 7,000 
			 2003-04 — 
			 2004-05 31,489 
			 2005-06 30,062 
			 2006-07 (To date) — 
			 Total 68,551 
		
	
	These costs were incurred by the PSNI, through its Information Management Steering Group, in establishing a Call Management project appraising how best to take forward call management within the PSNI over the next 20 years.
	The spend represents value for money in effectively delivering the outline specification for the project in line with Recommendation 93 of The Report of the Independent Commission on Policing for Northern Ireland (Patten Report) requires the PSNI to prepare and deliver an IT strategy that will
	". .deliver folly integrated technology systems that are readily accessible to all staff, and should take advantage of the best analytical and communications systems currently available".
	PSNI expenditure in call management is of the order of £40 million per annum. The call centre handling project is in the early stages of business appraisal.

Regeneration

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what regeneration projects received funding from his Department in each of the last six years; and at what cost.

David Hanson: Regeneration (both urban and rural) has been funded by NI Departments through a number of programmes and projects as shown in the following table. Figures are presented showing resource and capital expenditure. For the first five years these figures are actual outturn (2001 to 2006), while projected expenditure is used for the current financial year (2006-07). It would have been possible to provide a response detailing each individual project only at disproportionate cost.
	
		
			  Regeneration expenditure 2001 to 2007 
			  £000 
			   2001-02  2002-03  2003-04 
			  Project/funding stream  Res  Cap  Res  Cap  Res  Cap 
			  OFMDFM   
			 ILEX — — — — 146 — 
			 Maze/Long Kesh — — — — 473 — 
			  — — — — 619 — 
			
			  DSD—Urban regeneration   
			 Belfast Regeneration Office 6,766 — 5,549 879 4,640 — 
			 Londonderry Regeneration Initiative 87 — 1,428 260 904 — 
			 Expenditure by other Departments 838 1,466 881 203 495 13 
			 Urban Development Grants — 8,062 — 3,565 — 1,678 
			 CRISP/CERS — 4,606 — 2,354 — 1,954 
			 Environmental Improvement 1,743 — 1,260 — 1,468 — 
			 Laganside 6,631 — 6,745 189 6,166 42 
			 ILEX — — — — 210 — 
			 Omagh Task Force 44 — 45 — 62 — 
			 Travelling People (DC Grant) — 44 — 12 — 19 
			 Neighbourhood Renewal — — — — 727 2,881 
			 Areas at Risk — — — — — — 
			 Urban Post Offices — — — — — — 
			 Festivals — — — — — — 
			 BSP Measure 3.1 2,635 — 1,427 — 1,408 — 
			 Peace II Measure 2.11 26 — 25 — 5,778 — 
			 Urban II 14 — 167 — 1,205 — 
			  18,784 14,178 17,527 7,462 23,062 3,706 
			
			  DARD—Rural regeneration   
			 Battery Harbour Project — 9 — — — — 
			 Glenariff Forest Walkway (repairs0 — — — — — — 
			 Leisure/Tourism Development — — — — — — 
			 NI Rural Development programme 5,898 — 3,343 — 13,102 — 
			 S. Down Fishing Villages — — — — — — 
			  5,898 9 3,343 — 13,102 460 
			 Total 24,682 14,187 20,869 7,462 36,784 4,166 
		
	
	
		
			  £000 
			   2004-05  2005-06  2006-07 
			  Project/funding stream  Res  Cap  Res  Cap  Res  Cap 
			  OFMDFM   
			 ILEX 948 — 1,092 — 1,352 — 
			 Maze/Long Kesh 1,093 — 492 — 1,869 1,000 
			  2,041 — 1,584 — 3,221 1,000 
			
			  DSD—Urban regeneration   
			 Belfast Regeneration Office 3,210 — 1,155 1,604 245 1,251 
			 Londonderry Regeneration Initiative 193 — 91 — — — 
			 Expenditure by other Departments 579 — 1,565 1,051 1,346 1,728 
			 Urban Development Grants — 923 — 1,148 — 2,395 
			 CRISP/CERS — 1,343 — 557 — 1,297 
			 Environmental Improvement 2,000 — 1,320 3,443 1,100 5,799 
			 Laganside 5,313 1,819 5,300 100 6,503 1,193 
			 ILEX 641 — 675 — 1,045 — 
			 Omagh Task Force 39 — 46 — 79 — 
			 Travelling People (DC Grant) — — — — — — 
			 Neighbourhood Renewal 2,881 — 7,486 417 10,960 4,670 
			 Areas at Risk — — — — 324 — 
			 Urban Post Offices — 50 — 44 — 50 
			 Festivals — — 274 — — — 
			 BSP Measure 3.1 978 — — — — — 
			 Peace II Measure 2.11 2,848 — 3,468 — 3,022 — 
			 Urban II 1,667 — 1,766 — 2,126 — 
			  18,393 4,135 22,965 8,364 26,749 18,383 
			
			  DARD—Rural regeneration   
			 Battery Harbour Project — — — — — — 
			 Glenariff Forest Walkway (repairs0 — — — — — — 
			 Leisure/Tourism Development — — — 60 — — 
			 NI Rural Development programme 16,787 3,880 17,703 4,776 13,567 5,002 
			 S. Down Fishing Villages — — — — 292 374 
			  16,787 3,880 17,703 4,836 13,859 5,376 
			 Total 37,221 8,015 42,253 13,200 43,830 24,759 
		
	
	In addition, a number of projects have also been funded through the Department for Social Development from EU funds which have been recorded in calendar years. Under the Urban 1 funding stream a total of £954,000 was paid to projects in 2001 and £87,000 was paid in 2002. Under the Peace I programme, a total of £25,471,000 was paid to regeneration projects in Northern Ireland during the period 1 January 1994 to 31 December 2001. Under the EU Physical, Social and Environmental Programme (PSEP) a total of £34,000 was paid in 2001.

Water Service: Standards

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many water leaks were reported to the Water Service in each of the last three years; and what the average length of time taken to repair water leaks was over the same period.

David Cairns: The Chief Executive of Water Service (Mrs. Katharine Bryan) has been asked to write to the hon. Lady in response to this question.
	 Letter from Mrs. Katharine Bryan, dated 28 March 2007:
	You recently asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland a Parliamentary Question about how many water leaks were reported to the Water Service in each of the last three years; and what the average length of time taken to repair water leaks was over the same period (128114). I have been asked to reply as this issue falls within my responsibility as Chief Executive of Water Service.
	The number of water leaks reported to Water Service from 2003/04 to 2006/07 is set out below.
	
		
			   Number of leaks reported 
			 2003-04 (1)9,845 
			 2004-05 10,658 
			 2005-06 10,289 
			 2006-07 10,176 
			 (1) The 2003-04 figure is an estimate as the information for that year was not captured in the same format as the other years. 
		
	
	Water Service logs all reported defects in the public water mains and monitors progress through a Work Management System. Repairs are undertaken by a combination of in-house resources and approved contractors and the times taken to complete repairs are monitored to ensure they comply with set targets. These range from 2 to 7 days, depending on the nature of the defect, and they are normally achieved. Exceptions arise as a result of restrictions imposed by the location and nature of the defect. Unfortunately, Water Service does not specifically record average timescales for repairing reported leaks and the information requested could only be extracted manually at disproportionate cost.

Water Service: Standards

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what targets are in place to cut the amount of water lost through leakage in Northern Ireland.

David Cairns: The Chief Executive of Water Service (Mrs. Katharine Bryan) has been asked to write to the hon. Lady in response to this question.
	 Letter from Katharine Bryan, dated 28 March 2007:
	You recently asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland a Parliamentary Question about what targets are in place to cut the amount of water lost through leakage in Northern Ireland (128136). I have been asked to reply as this issue falls within my responsibility as Chief Executive of Water Service.
	Leakage reduction in a network of approximately 26,500 kilometres of water mains and around 6 million joins in the network is a complex issue that requires significant planning and, to this end, Water Service has in place an active Leakage Reduction Action Plan containing phased annual reduction targets. The targets from 2002/03 are set out in the table below:
	
		
			  Megalitres per day 
			   Target  Achieved 
			 2002-03 291 291 
			 2003-04 233 231 
			 2004-05 205 203 
			 2005-06 179 178 
			 2006-07 169 On target 
			 2007-08 157 (1)— 
			 2008-09 146 (1)— 
			 2009-10 136 (1)— 
			 (1) Subject to board approval. 
		
	
	Since March 2003, Water Service has reduced leakage from 291 Megalitres per day (Ml/d) to 178 Megalitres per day in March 2006 and is on target to achieve 169 Ml/d by 31 March this year. We are currently undertaking a review of the "economic level of leakage", however, it is expected that the existing level of 165 Ml/d will be achieved by March 2008. The economic level of leakage is defined as the point at which it would cost more to make further reductions than to produce the water from another source.
	The targets from 2007/08 are provisional and subject to ratification by the Board of Northern Ireland Water.

Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many postdoctoral fellowships were awarded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council in financial year  (a) 2004-05,  (b) 2005-06 and  (c) 2006-07; and how many are budgeted for the financial year 2007-08.

Malcolm Wicks: The information is as follows.
	
		
			   Fellowships 
			  Postdoctoral fellowships (0-3 years postdoc. experience)  
			 2004-05 19 
			 2005-06 23 
			 2006-07 31 
			   
			  Advanced research fellowships (3-10 years postdoc experience)  
			 2004-05 40 
			 2005-06 50 
			 2006-07 51 
			   
			  Senior research fellowships  
			 2004-05 3 
			 2005-06 6 
			 2006-07 6 
			   
			  Statistics mobility fellowships  
			 2006-07 6 
		
	
	EPSRC also support the following fellowships in conjunction with other organisations:
	 Hodge fellowships
	Two one-year fellowships a year with and through the Institut des Hautes Etudes Scientifiques.
	
		
			  Royal Academy of Engineering (postdoctoral research fellowships) 
			   Number 
			 2004-05 8 
			 2005-06 10 
			 2006-07 8 
		
	
	
		
			  Royal Society industry fellowships 
			   £ 
			 2004-05 200,000 
			 2005-06 200,000 
			 2006-07 250,000 
		
	
	The number of awards funded vary each year.
	EPSRC are currently reviewing its support of fellowships. The outcome of this review will be known by the end of May 2007. Therefore, the total number of awards is not available for 2007-08.

IPPR

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what funding  (a) the North West Development Agency,  (b) one NorthEast,  (c) the London Development Agency,  (d) the East of England Development Agency and  (e) the South East England Development Agency provided to (i) the IPPR and (ii) IPPR Trading Ltd in each year since their creation.

Margaret Hodge: The following tables show North West Regional Development Agency's, One North East's, London Development Agency's, East of England Development Agency's and South East of England Development Agency's payments to the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR), their total grant in aid budget and the proportion of payments to IPPR as a percentage of their total budget from 2002-03 to the present date. I am informed that no payments have been made to the Institute for Public Policy Research Trading Limited by these RDAs.
	
		
			   2002-03  2003-04  2004-05 
			   Total budget (£ million)  IPPR (£000)  Percentage  Total budget (£ million)  IPPR (£000)  Percentage  Total budget (£ million)  IPPR (£000)  Percentage 
			 North West regional Development Agency 274 0 0 309 0 0 367 20 0.005 
			 One North East 193 0 0 223 20 0.008 227 5 0.002 
			 London Development Agency 295 18 0.006 317 43 0.01 328 0 0 
			 East of England Development Agency 88 0 0 80 0 0 84 9.5 0.011 
			 South East England Development Agency 112 0 0 136 0 0 110 0 0 
		
	
	
		
			   2005-06  2006-07 
			   Total budget (£ million)  IPPR (£000)  Percentage  Total budget (£ million)  IPPR (£000)  Percentage 
			 North West regional Development Agency 382 00 0 400 22 0.005 
			 One North East 240 0 0 251 65 0.025 
			 London Development Agency 373 10 0.002 391 0 0 
			 East of England Development Agency 129 5 0.003 134 5 0.003 
			 South East England Development Agency 157 1.6 0.001 163 5 0.003

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations she has made to the Government of Democratic Republic of Congo on the arrest and trial of Marie-Thérèse Nlandu and others; and if she will make a statement.

Ian McCartney: The Government are closely following the continued detention of Mme. Nlandu. Our ambassador in Kinshasa has raised the case of Mme. Nlandu on several occasions with Congolese Ministers, the Congolese Interior Minister and President Kabila's advisors. He raised the case with President Kabila himself in February. Embassy officials have also been present during some of her appearances in court and visited her in prison last month. We continue to monitor her situation and treatment closely. International partners are doing the same.

Members: Correspondence

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when she will reply to the letter of 6 February 2007 from the hon. Member for North East Milton Keynes on Mr. Ken Hawkins, a constituent, of Willows End House, Milton Keynes, MK15 8AZ.

Ian McCartney: holding answer 27 March 2007
	I understand that the hon. Member's question refers to his letter of 28 February to which my right hon. Friend the Minister for Europe will be replying to this week.

Pakistan: Human Rights

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions she has had with the Government of Pakistan on its blasphemy laws and hudood ordinances.

Geoff Hoon: My right hon. Friend the Minister of State for Trade, Investment and Foreign Affairs, Ian McCartney, visited Pakistan in November 2006 and raised the issue of human rights with the Government of Pakistan. He welcomed the adoption of the Women's Protection Bill in November 2006, which made significant amendments to the hudood legislation governing rape and adultery, as an important step by the Government of Pakistan.
	In subsequent correspondence with the Government of Pakistan in February, Mr. McCartney raised the abuse of the blasphemy laws and the impact on religious minorities in particular.
	We will continue to raise our human rights concerns with the Government of Pakistan, bilaterally and together with our EU partners.

Saudi Arabia

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if she will raise the case of Mr. Rafiq Gorji, his late wife and the safety of Hajj pilgrimage travel with the Saudi authorities.

Ian McCartney: Following the bus crash near Rabigh in Saudi Arabia on 9 December 2006 when three British nationals—including Mr Gorji's wife— died, our ambassador in Riyadh met the Saudi Arabian Minister of Hajj on 10 February and raised the issue of travel safety for pilgrims during the Hajj.
	The Minister explained that new measures to improve travel safety would be
	introduced from next year. These would include:
	a requirement that each bus must have two drivers;
	a ban to be introduced on all buses carrying pilgrims between Mecca and Medina, after 11 pm; and
	the development of a new train project between Mecca and Medina.
	The safety of British nationals abroad is a priority for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and we welcome these new initiatives.

Zimbabwe: Human Rights

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps have been taken by her Department to raise the issue of Zimbabwe at  (a) the United Nations Security Council and  (b) other United Nations bodies; what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of these efforts; and if she will make a statement.

Margaret Beckett: My right hon. Friend the Minister of State for Trade, Investment and Foreign Affairs, (Mr. McCartney) condemned the government of Zimbabwe in his speech to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on 13 March. While there, he also discussed the situation with the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, who herself has made a statement. Our Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva also raised Zimbabwe at the Human Rights Council on 14 March. In response to our concerns, the UN High Commissioner agreed to monitor the judicial process directed against Mr. Tsvangarai and his colleagues. We are also pressing for further action in the UN Human Rights Council.
	We have welcomed the statement made by the UN Secretary-General. On 16 March, our Permanent Representative to the UN in New York raised Zimbabwe with the Secretary-General and Security Council ambassadors. As a result, the Secretary-General has agreed to arrange an urgent briefing on the humanitarian situation.

Breast Cancer: Screening

Anne Milton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many women over the age of 70 self-referred for breast cancer screening in  (a) Surrey Primary Care Trust and  (b) England in the last period for which figures are available; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: The information requested is in the table:
	
		
			  Area  Self/general practitioner referral for breast screening for women aged 70 and over in 2005-06  Self/general practitioner referral for breast screening for women aged 70 and over 2003-04 to 2005-06 
			 East Elmbridge and Mid Surrey Primary Care Trust 297 770 
			 East Surrey Primary Care Trust 45 409 
			 North Surrey Primary Care Trust 136 431 
			 England 45,990 156,089 
			  Source:  KC63 The Information Centre

Breast Cancer: Screening

David Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many women in Bolton have been screened for breast cancer over the last five years.

Rosie Winterton: The information has been set out in the table.
	
		
			   Numbers screened 
			 2002 13,741 
			 2003 14,823 
			 2004 14,958 
			 2005 14,835 
			 2006 14,590 
			  Note:  Figures refer to women between 60-64 screened in Bolton Primary Care Trust.   Source:  KC63 The Information Centre for health and social care

Diabetes: Medical Equipment

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate she has made of the number of people with diabetes who have not gained access to blood testing strips and blood glucose testing equipment; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: Data is not collected on the numbers of people who have not gained access to blood glucose testing strips and blood glucose testing equipment.
	Blood glucose testing strips are available on national health service prescriptions and are available free of charge to people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes whose condition is controlled by insulin or tablets.

Diabetes: Screening

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many diabetics visited hospitals and clinics in order to get their blood glucose tested in each year since 1997.

Rosie Winterton: Data are not collected in the format requested.
	The table shows the numbers of people with diabetes who received HbA1c (a marker of long-term control of diabetes) or equivalent test in 2004-05 and 2005-06, the latest years for which figures are available:
	
		
			   Numbers of people aged 17 and over with diagnosed diabetes  Numbers of people who received a HbA1c or equivalent test in the previous 15 months 
			 2004-05 1,734,165 1,637,774 
			 2005-06 1,841,571 1,776,415 
			  Source: The Quality and Outcomes Framework

GPs: Training

Richard Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the  (a) duration and  (b) content will be of the training to be offered to GPs who wish to take on the role of GP with Special Interest; what hospital specialties she expects to be covered by the programme; what estimate she has made of the number of GPs likely to apply; and if she will make a statement.

Andy Burnham: The appointment general practitioners with a special interest (GPwSIs) is local matter for primary care trusts. The Department supports this process through guidance, including specific advice on the following specialties:
	care for older people;
	coronary heart disease;
	child protection;
	dermatology;
	diabetes;
	drug misuse;
	echocardiography;
	emergency care;
	ear nose and throat;
	epilepsy;
	genetics;
	headaches;
	mental health;
	musculoskeletal conditions;
	palliative care;
	respiratory medicine; and
	sexual health.
	The Department has commissioned the Royal College of General Practitioners to review these frameworks. Revised versions will be published later this year as competency based specialty frameworks.
	On training the departmental guidance makes it clear a qualification alone is not enough and that GPwSIs should have acquired skills through supervised practice in an appropriate setting. Detailed training requirements are however a local matter and information on such training is not collected centrally.

Kidney Patients

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many people in  (a) Jarrow constituency,  (b) South Tyneside,  (c) the North East and  (d) England (i) were diagnosed with chronic kidney disease and (ii) required renal replacement therapy in each year since 1997;
	(2)  how many people in  (a) Jarrow constituency,  (b) South Tyneside,  (c) the North East and  (d) England received renal replacement therapy in each year since 1997.

Rosie Winterton: There is no national registry of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Over 99.9 per cent., of people with CKD will be under the care of general practitioners (GPs) and not seen by secondary or tertiary hospital services.
	At general practice level, maintenance of a practice register of patients with CKD became a part of the quality and outcomes framework in April 2006, which in due course should mean that a very rich dataset will be available for every community in the country.
	The United Kingdom Renal Registry (UKRR) holds data on patients receiving renal replacement therapy. The Newcastle renal unit has only been returning these data to the UKRR since 2002. The registry has analysed this data and determined that the number of people receiving renal replacement therapy in South Tyneside at the end of each year since then is in the following table.
	
		
			  Number of people receiving renal replacement therapy in South Tyneside 
			  As of 31 December  Number 
			 2002 78 
			 2003 83 
			 2004 89 
			 2005 97 
		
	
	In the North East of England, the number of people receiving renal replacement therapy at the end of each year is in the following table.
	
		
			  People receiving renal replacement therapy in the North East of England 
			  As of 31 December  Number 
			 2002 1,469 
			 2003 1,501 
			 2004 1,571 
			 2005 1,635 
		
	
	Across England, the number of people receiving renal replacement therapy at the end of each year is in the following table.
	
		
			  People receiving renal replacement therapy across England 
			  As of 31 December  Number 
			 2002 30,966 
			 2003 31,248 
			 2004 32,256 
			 2005 34,574 
		
	
	Data on the number of patients receiving renal replacement therapy are not collected by parliamentary constituency.

NHS: Finance

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the total value of capital-to-revenue transfers made by her Department was in each year since 1997-98.

Andy Burnham: The information is in the table
	
		
			   Capital to revenue transfers( 1)  (£ million) 
			 1997-98 270.981 
			 1998-99 372.082 
			 1999-2000 534.951 
			 2000-01 750.292 
			 2001-02 877.830 
			 2002-03 1,019.344 
			 2003-04 835.796 
			 2004-05 405.562 
			 2005-06 391.562 
			 (1 )This includes all transfers, main, in year and technical adjustments.

Northern Lincolnshire and Goole Hospitals NHS Trust: Maternity Services

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the total expenditure on maternity services was at Northern Lincolnshire and Goole hospitals NHS trust in each of the last five years.

Andy Burnham: The following table shows the total expenditure on maternity services at Northern Lincolnshire and Goole hospitals national health service trust.
	
		
			  £000 
			   2001-02  2002-03  2003-04 
			 Maternity function: patients using a bed 8,224 8,539 9,096 
			 Maternity function: out-patients 1,274 877 2.070 
			 Health programme: maternity services 0 0 1,128 
			 Total 9,498 9,416 12,294 
			  Note: Data is obtained from the annual financial returns, because of changes in the format of the financial returns, this information is not available after 2003-04.  Source: Financial returns of the Northern Lincolnshire and Goole hospitals NHS trust 2001-02 to 2003-04

Overweight Children

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate she has made of the proportion of children who were  (a) overweight and  (b) obese in each of the last 10 years, broken down by age.

Caroline Flint: The information is not available in the format requested. Data on obesity and overweight prevalence among children are available from the Health Survey for England. Data on obesity and overweight cannot be provided for individual ages, over a time series. The tables show the prevalence of obesity and overweight for children aged two to 10 and 11 to 15, for the last 10 years for which data are available.
	
		
			  Children's overweight and obesity prevalence, by survey year, 1995 to 2005, England 
			  Percentage 
			   1995  1996  1997  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002 
			  Aged  2- 10 
			 Overweight 12.8 12.4 12.5 13.6 13.8 12.6 14.8 13.2 
			 Obese 9.9 10.6 10.9 11.6 14.6 12.0 13.1 15.5 
			 Overweight including obese 22.7 23.1 23.4 25.2 28.4 24.6 27.9 28.7 
			  
			  Aged  11-15 
			 Overweight 13.6 14.2 14.0 15.2 14.3 12.3 15.8 14.7 
			 Obese 14.4 14.3 15.9 16.9 16.1 18.5 18.2 19.5 
			 Overweight including obese 28.1 28.6 29.9 32.1 30.4 30.8 34.1 34.2 
			  
			  Aged  2- 15 
			 Overweight 13.1 13.0 13.0 14.1 14.0 12.5 15.1 13.8 
			 Obese 11.5 11.9 12.6 13.4 15.1 14.3 15.0 17.0 
			 Overweight including obese 24.5 24.9 25.6 27.5 29.0 26.8 30.1 30.8 
			  
			  Bases (weighted) 
			 2-10 2,527 2,783 4,089 2,552 1,262 1,094 2,129 4,654 
			 11-15 1,293 1,363 2,043 1,301 665 624 1,223 2,726 
			 2-15 3,819 4,146 6,132 3,853 1,927 1,718 3,352 7,381 
		
	
	
		
			  Percentage 
			   2003( 1)  2004( 1)  2005( 1)  2003( 2)  2004( 2)  2005( 2) 
			  Aged 2-10   
			 Overweight 14.0 14.2 14.3 14.0 14.7 14.2 
			 Obese 13.7 14.3 16.7 13.8 14.5 16.8 
			 Overweight including obese 27.7 28.5 30.9 27.8 29.1 31.0 
			
			  Aged 11-15   
			 Overweight 15.2 16.1 14.4 15.4 16.0 14.5 
			 Obese 21.2 25.0 20.5 21.0 25.4 20.6 
			 Overweight including obese 36.4 41.1 35.0 36.4 41.4 35.1 
			
			  Aged 2-15   
			 Overweight 14.5 14.9 14.3 14.6 15.2 14.3 
			 Obese 16.5 18.3 18.0 16.6 18.8 18.3 
			 Overweight including obese 31.0 33.2 32.4 31.2 34.0 32.6 
			
			  Bases (weighted)   
			 2-10 1,774 759 1,419 1,736 726 1,338 
			 11-15 1,081 465 794 1,109 480 855 
			 2-15 2,854 1,224 2,212 2,845 1,206 2,193 
			 (1) From 2003 data were also weighted for non-response. Data weighted for child selection only are provided for consistency with previous years. (2) Weighted.  Source: The Health Survey for England: Uprating of tend tables to include 2005 data. The information Centre.

Patients Forums: Finance

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the money provided by her Department to county councils for the purpose of establishing and supporting local involvement networks will be ring-fenced; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: It is Government policy to devolve power to local authorities, which will make decisions on priorities according to local needs. For this reason we will not be ring-fencing the funds made available for local involvement networks (LINks), but will be making a targeted grant to each local authority wish social services responsibility for the purpose of supporting LINk activities.